Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Hawks and Knives => Topic started by: RobD on November 30, 2014, 06:08:05 AM

Title: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on November 30, 2014, 06:08:05 AM
Got a buncha short 2-3/4" Helle blades hangin around, all naked lookin, so time to stick a handle on one and make a patch knife.  This one is their #50B Fjording, triple carbon steel (not stainless).



Part of an elk tine for the main part of the handle, then a thin spacer of oak, and a butt cap of hard paduak.  For now, the blade's tang is just press fitted into a 1/4" hole drilled through the bone.  It'll get notched with a dremel carbide wheel to all for more purchase when slow set epoxied into the bone hole.  Most of that hardwood will get sanded off and rounded, don't want it to be too big.  Since the back end of the blade is arced top and bottom, I think I'll just taper the bone rather than add a finger guard, for a more slim look and easy in/out of the leather sheath that's yet to be made.

More to come.  8)

(http://i.imgur.com/dM89TyD.jpg)
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on November 30, 2014, 12:44:34 PM
some time with the bandsaw and sander, whittled the handle down to best fit a hand.  

the tang has been serrated with a dremel wheel prior to gluing ...
(http://i.imgur.com/nxzfYPt.jpg)

and now the slow set epoxy is curing ...
(http://i.imgur.com/9uiJWe6.jpg)
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: Roaddog on December 01, 2014, 06:25:16 AM
I like the way you did the handle.That will be a dandy pach knife. :rt th
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on December 01, 2014, 06:33:13 AM
Quote from: "Roaddog"
I like the way you did the handle.That will be a dandy pach knife. :bl th up  8)
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on December 01, 2014, 09:18:02 AM
epoxy cured, clear coated.  nothing special, but serviceable, i think.  time to make a sheath.

(http://i.imgur.com/FqUUTdG.jpg)
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: Riley/MN on December 01, 2014, 10:43:13 AM
:hairy
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on December 01, 2014, 10:43:27 AM
sheath done up quick 'n' dirty ...

(http://i.imgur.com/JJw2XwT.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/CViZc3Y.jpg)
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on December 02, 2014, 03:31:16 PM
Another helle blank, this time a #55B Nyling, triple lam with a center of stainless and carbon outside.  Got an elk tine that should work out.

Tang and tine cut to length, tang notched for epoxy ...
(http://i.imgur.com/uLhLOlL.jpg)

Drilled the 1/4" tan hole, marked and sanded the bone end ...
(http://i.imgur.com/iI7AaUg.jpg)

All done, including the sheath ...
(http://i.imgur.com/mORmnHH.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/mrh1zdN.jpg)
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: Roaddog on December 03, 2014, 06:33:13 AM
You sure work fast.I best get busi.O'l RFD sent two of those nice blades to me and are they sharp. :shake
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: gunmaker on December 03, 2014, 12:29:26 PM
Nice work, always good to have your own stuff.  I mite say,  Add a gusset between the two folds so sharp blade won't poke thru....Tom
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on December 03, 2014, 01:10:33 PM
yes, i hear ya, gm.  factory helle sheaths have a "V" rib covering the stitched area.  in the past i used to add a rib of leather sandwiched 'tween the flaps before stitching.  just didn't see the need now in the way each sheath wedge-holds the handle, the blade stays far enuf away from the stitched flaps.  but, i also wicked in quality water thin cya to the leather edges and the stiching, which in turn glues those flaps solid all around the stitching.  

omigosh!  such crude handles, and how so not 18th century!  am i still allowed to post here???  8)  :wave   yeah, they're just working patch knives and obviously aren't meant to be pc-hc works of art.  sorry to have offended some folks.  

here's the patch knife i assembled with my red oak handle and a tiny 2-1/4" helle ola-kniven blade, i stiched the little sheath together and then tied it top and bottom on my possibles bag strap.  you can see the where the cya darkened the sheath's stitched edge and synthetic sinew - it's all quite solid.  

(http://i.imgur.com/wZg5mkh.jpg)
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on December 19, 2014, 06:39:46 PM
and yet another, this time a helle polar blade, with some antler off a texas whitetail that i arrowed with my longbow 2 years ago.

(http://i.imgur.com/SKeoslo.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/4jmpSQj.jpg)

one more blade to handle, one more sheath to make.  

there are lotsa good ways to protect the stitching and i'll show one with the upcoming sheath.
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: gunmaker on December 19, 2014, 06:45:30 PM
Helle of a nice knife........
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: Two Steps on December 19, 2014, 07:56:49 PM
Quote
Helle of a nice knife..
:Doh!    :lol:
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on December 20, 2014, 01:29:14 PM
last one (for me, yay!).  a helle triple carbon hefty 4-3/8" viking blade.  got a billet of this nice hard wood from a friend, dunno what species but it's nearly as dense as a rock and took hours instead of minutes to cut, rasp and sand.  the sheath was made without a welt strip, but after it was stitched, each of the stitch holes was opened with a filed sharp nail,  a strip of blue 3m painter's tape applied to the back side of the sheath and over the stitch holes, then a drop of quality slow set epoxy filled each hole.  

(http://i.imgur.com/AhIArmg.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/uIbvdSO.jpg)
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: Roaddog on December 21, 2014, 05:57:26 AM
Holy smokes that's a nice lookn pice of wood you scalped out there.It was well werth the time ya put into it.The sheath and knife look very good togather. Nice job! :rt th
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: Two Steps on December 21, 2014, 06:10:27 AM
All works to be proud of for sure...but that last one is really an eye catcher :rt th
Al
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: huntinguy on December 22, 2014, 12:08:41 PM
Quote from: "rfd"
and yet another, this time a helle polar blade, with some antler off a texas whitetail that i arrowed with my longbow 2 years ago.

(http://i.imgur.com/SKeoslo.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/4jmpSQj.jpg)

one more blade to handle, one more sheath to make.  

there are lotsa good ways to protect the stitching and i'll show one with the upcoming sheath.

Dang if that one don't leave slobbers on the keyboard.  :bl th up
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: RobD on January 05, 2015, 11:48:13 AM
last one, it's almost therapeutic to make these quickie handles and sheaths   :)   another lacewood handled neck/patch knife w/helle triple carbon fjording 2.5" blade ...

  (http://i.imgur.com/hxHYcjG.jpg)
Title: Re: Got blade, need handle
Post by: PetahW on August 10, 2016, 08:08:14 PM
.

I like the size/shape of a couple of those patch knives - they look satisfying to fashion.

It looks like I need to get busy, and catch up.......  ;)

Besides re-handling my Cold Steel Trailmaster Bowie this past Spring

(https://s26.postimg.org/cnx3c5wmx/DSCN0130.jpg)



 I put this medium pig-sticker together, using some more of the Ebony on hand, and a blade/guard from the Crazy Crow Trading Post ( Native American Craft Supplies - Beads, Leather, Feathers, Kits (http://www.crazycrow.com/site/)   )

(https://s26.postimg.org/rzidb9la1/DSCN1630.jpg)


And, I tried my hand at making an Arkansas Toothpick (also using Ebony)

(https://s26.postimg.org/4k58hpszd/DSCN1919.jpg)


.